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1. Fourth LACCEI International Latin American and Caribbean Conference for Engineering and Technology (LACCEI’ 2006)
“Breaking Frontiers and Barriers in Engineering: Education, Research and Practice”
AGRICULTURAL AND BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING:
SCOPE AND OPPORTUNITIES
Megh R. Goyal, Ph.D., P.E.
Professor in Agricultural and Biomedical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico – Mayaguez Campus
Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, USA. EMAIL: mgoyal@uprm.edu
Vish Prasad, Ph.D., P.E.
Dean, Faculty of Engineering, Florida International University, Miami,FL,USA. vish.prasad@fiu.edu
Abstract
Biological and agricultural engineering (BAE) is the application of engineering principles to any process
associated with producing agriculturally based goods and management of our natural resources. BA
engineers devise practical, efficient solutions for producing, storing, transporting, processing, and
packaging agricultural products; solve problems related to systems, processes, and machines that interact
with humans, plants, animals, microorganisms, and biological materials. BAE embraces a variety of
specialty areas: Biological Engineering, Natural Resources, Power Systems & Machinery Design,
Structures & Environment, Food and Bioprocess Engineers, Information & Electrical Technologies,
Forest Engineering, Energy, Aquacultural Engineering, Nursery & Greenhouse Engineering, and Safety
and Health. BA engineers understand the interrelationships between technology and living systems, have
available a wide variety of employment options. Biomedical engineering (BME) is a discipline that
advances knowledge in engineering, biology and medicine, and improves human health through cross-
disciplinary activities that integrate the engineering sciences with the biomedical sciences and clinical
practice. Biomedical Engineers apply electrical, mechanical, chemical, optical and engineering
mechanics principles to understand, modify, or control biologic (i.e., human and animal) systems, as well
as design and manufacture products that can monitor physiologic functions and assist in the diagnosis and
treatment of patients. When biomedical engineers work within a hospital or clinic, they are more
properly called clinical engineers. Some of the well established specialty areas within the field of BME
are: bioinstrumentation; biomaterials; biomechanics; cellular, tissue and genetic engineering; clinical
engineering; medical imaging; orthopedic surgery; rehabilitation engineering; and systems physiology.
Current status and job opportunities for BME and BAE are discussed.
Key words
Biological engineering, agricultural engineering, biomedical engineering, American Society of
Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Biomedical Engineering Society.
1. Agricultural and Biological Engineering
1.1 Introduction
Biological and Agricultural Engineering involves finding solutions for life on a small planet. In the early
twentieth century, even in industrialized countries, production of the world's food supply required the
labor of at least half the population. Today, thanks in large part to advancements made by biological and

2. agricultural engineers; developed countries can accomplish this using only a slim 2% of their populations.
And engineering efforts have not been limited to food production: fiber, timber, and energy products, for
example, as well as the technologies, equipment, and precious natural resources required to produce them,
have all benefited from the talents and vision of these devoted individuals. Now, new challenges present
themselves. As world population swells, more food, energy, and goods are required. But our limited
natural resources demand that we produce more with less, that higher productivity does not degrade our
environment, and that we search for new ways to use agricultural products, byproducts, and wastes.
Biological and agricultural engineers are responding with viable, environmentally sustainable solutions,
the success of which is expanding career opportunities in such related biological fields as medicine,
pharmacy, and bioinstrumentation.
Just what is Biological and Agricultural Engineering? Biological and agricultural engineers ensure
that we have the necessities of life: safe and plentiful food to eat, pure water to drink, clean fuel and
energy sources, and a safe, healthy environment in which to live. More specifically, biological and
agricultural engineering (BAE) is the application of engineering principles to any process associated with
producing agriculturally based goods and management of our natural resources.
What do Biological and agricultural engineers devise? They devise practical, efficient solutions for
producing, storing, transporting, processing, and packaging agricultural products; Solve problems related
to systems, processes, and machines that interact with humans, plants, animals, microorganisms, and
biological materials; Develop solutions for responsible, alternative uses of agricultural products,
byproducts and wastes and of our natural resources - soil, water, air, and energy; And they do all this with
a constant eye toward improved protection of people, animals, and the environment.
1.2 Why Biological and Agricultural Engineering?
For the student who enjoys science and mathematics, biological and agricultural engineering offers a
unique opportunity to combine those scholarly interests with the challenge of providing food and other
goods for a growing world population while protecting our natural resources. BAE academic programs
offer a unique and valuable educational experience. While other engineering students may study a single
discipline, BAE programs traditionally include coursework in a variety of engineering disciplines,
complemented by classes in biological and agricultural sciences. When they reach their advanced-level
courses, BAE students then tend to choose a specialty area according to their individual interests - for
example, environmental systems, food production, biological resources or ecological systems, and power
and machinery systems. Regardless of the specialty, BAE students enjoy a distinct advantage when it
comes time to enter the workforce. Their well-rounded engineering experiences enable them to function
exceptionally well on the multidisciplinary teams in today's workforce. And only biological and
agricultural engineers have the training and experience to understand the interrelationships between
technology and living systems - talents needed to succeed in engineering positions today and in the future.
1.3 Specialty Areas
Biological and agricultural engineering embraces a variety of specialty areas. As new technology and
information emerge, specialty areas are created, and many overlap with one or more other areas. Here are
descriptions of some of the exciting specialties one could choose to focus on as a student in biological and
agricultural engineering. See figures 1 and 2.
Biological Engineering: One of the most rapidly growing of the BAE specialties, biological engineering
applies engineering practice to problems and opportunities presented by living things and the natural
environment.

3. Figure 1: Specialty areas in Agricultural and Biological Engineering.
Biological engineers are involved in a variety of exciting interests that continue to emerge as our
understanding of science and nature grows. Areas of interest range from environmental protection and
remediation, to food and feed production, to medicine and plant-based pharmaceuticals and packaging
materials. Some biological engineers design medical implants and other devices, or bioinstrumentation
and imaging products. Others develop strategies for natural pest control and treatment of hazardous
wastes, for composting, and for enzyme processing of biomass, food, feed, and wastes.
Natural Resources: Our environment is fragile. The 1930s Dust Bowl and climatic events like the El
Nino phenomenon remind us that our soil and water are vulnerable to degradation by both natural and
man-made forces. BAEs with environmental expertise work to better understand the complex mechanics
of these resources, so that they can be used efficiently and without degradation. These engineers
determine crop water requirements and design irrigation systems. They are experts in agricultural
hydrology principles, such as controlling drainage, and they implement ways to control soil erosion and
study the environmental effects of sediment on stream quality. Natural resources engineers design, build,
operate and maintain water control structures for reservoirs, floodways and channels. They also work on
water treatment systems, wetlands protection, and other water issues.
Power Systems & Machinery Design: BAEs in this specialty focus on designing advanced equipment,
making it more efficient and less demanding of our natural resources. They develop equipment for food
processing, highly precise crop spraying, agricultural commodity and waste transport, and turf and
landscape maintenance, as well as equipment for such specialized tasks as removing seaweed from
beaches. This is in addition to the tractors, tillage equipment, irrigation equipment, and harvest equipment
that have done so much to reduce the drudgery of farming. Their work remains challenging as technology
advances, production practices change and equipment manufacturers expand globally.
Structures & Environment: BAEs understand the importance of creating and maintaining a healthy
environment for growing agricultural commodities and for the laborers who produce them. They also
understand that our natural resources must not be diminished, in quality or availability, by agricultural
operations. Toward these ends, BAEs with expertise in structures and environment design animal
housing, storage structures, and greenhouses, with ventilation systems, temperature and humidity
controls, and structural strength appropriate for their climate and purpose. They also devise better
practices and systems for storing, recovering, reusing, and transporting waste products.
Food and Bioprocess Engineers: Food, fiber, and timber are only the beginning of a long list of products
that benefit from efficient use of our natural resources.

4. Engineering for life with a
higher purpose that makes a
difference.
Limited natural resources.
Energy
Biological Engineering
NURSERY
Power and Machinary
Safety and Health
Food and bioprocess engineers
Figure 2: Specialty areas in Agricultural and Biological Engineering.

5. The list is growing - it includes biomass fuels, biodegradable packaging materials, and nutraceuticals,
pharmaceutical and other products - and is limited only by the creative vision of food and bioprocess
engineers. These engineers understand microbiological processes and use this expertise to develop useful
products, to treat municipal, industrial and agricultural wastes, and to improve food safety. They are
experts in pasteurization, sterilization, and irradiation, and in the packaging, transportation and storage of
perishable products. Food and process engineers combine design expertise with manufacturing methods
to develop economical and responsible processing solutions for industry. And food and process engineers
look for ways to reduce waste by devising alternatives for treatment, disposal and utilization.
Information & Electrical Technologies engineering is one of the most versatile of the BAE specialty
areas, because it is applied to virtually all the others, from machinery design to soil testing to food quality
and safety control. Geographic information systems, global positioning systems, machine instrumentation
and controls, electromagnetics, and -"bioinfomatics"- biorobotics, machine vision, sensors, spectroscopy -
these are some of the exciting information and electrical technologies being used today and being
developed for the future.
Forest Engineering: BAE’s apply engineering to solve natural resource and environment problems in
forest production systems and related manufacturing industries. Engineering skills and expertise are
needed to address problems related to equipment design and manufacturing, forest access systems design
and construction; machine-soil interaction and erosion control; forest operations analysis and
improvement; decision modeling; and wood product design and manufacturing. Forest engineers are
involved in a full range of activities in natural resource management and forest production systems.
Energy: Our high standard of living and comfort could not be maintained without energy to power the
machines, devices, and systems in our homes and workplaces. But many energy sources are
nonrenewable and create undesirable byproducts. Biological and agricultural engineers are at the forefront
of the effort to identify and develop viable energy sources - biomass, methane, and vegetable oil, to name
a few - and to make these and other systems cleaner and more efficient. These specialists also develop
energy conservation strategies to reduce costs and protect the environment, and they design traditional
and alternative energy systems to meet the needs of agricultural operations.
Aquacultural Engineering is increasing as natural fish supplies are threatened. Biological and
agricultural engineers help design farm systems for raising fish and shellfish, as well as ornamental and
bait fish. They specialize in water quality, biotechnology, machinery, natural resources, feeding and
ventilation systems, and sanitation. They seek ways to reduce pollution from aquacultural discharges, to
reduce excess water use, and to improve farm systems. They also work with aquatic animal harvesting,
sorting, and processing.
Nursery & Greenhouse Engineering: In many ways, nursery and greenhouse operations are
microcosms of large-scale production agriculture, with many similar needs - irrigation, mechanization,
disease and pest control, and nutrient application. However, other engineering needs also present
themselves in nursery and greenhouse operations: equipment for transplantation; control systems for
temperature, humidity, and ventilation; and plant biology issues, such as hydroponics, tissue culture, and
seedling propagation methods. And sometimes the challenges are extraterrestrial: BAEs at NASA are
designing greenhouse systems to support a manned expedition to Mars!
Safety and Health: Farming is one of the few industries in which entire families - who often share the
work and live on the premises - are vested and are at risk for injuries, illness, and death. Biological and
agricultural engineers analyze health and injury data, the use and possible misuse of machines, and
equipment compliance with standards and regulation. They constantly look for ways in which the safety

6. of equipment, materials and agricultural practices can be improved and for ways in which safety and
health issues can be communicated to the public.
1.4 Preparing for a Career in Biological and Agricultural Engineering
As with any engineering discipline, student needs to take as many math and science courses as one can
while in high school, but one should be sure to include life sciences. Every engineer must be able to
communicate effectively, and that includes speaking, listening, and the art of persuasion. One will find
that university BAE programs have many names, such as biological systems engineering, bioresource
engineering, environmental engineering, forest engineering, or food and process engineering. Whatever
the title, the typical curriculum begins with courses in writing, social sciences, and economics, along with
mathematics (calculus and statistics), chemistry, physics, and biology. Student gains a fundamental
knowledge of the life sciences and how biological systems interact with their environment. One also takes
engineering courses, such as thermodynamics, mechanics, instrumentation and controls, electronics and
electrical circuits, and engineering design. Then student adds courses related to particular interests,
perhaps including mechanization, soil and water resource management, food and process engineering,
industrial microbiology, biological engineering or pest management. As seniors, engineering students
team up to design, build, and test new processes or products.
1.5 Who Employs Biological and Agricultural Engineers?
Biological and agricultural engineers understand the interrelationships between technology and living
systems, and have available a wide variety of employment options. Below is an example of the diversity
of employers who hire BAE graduates.
3M
Abbott Labs
AGCO
Anheuser Busch
Archer Daniels
Midland
BASF
Briggs & Stratton
Campbell's Soup
Caterpillar
CH2M Hill
Case Corp
Dole
Dow Chemical
Exxon Mobil
Florida Light & Power
Ford Motor Co
General Mills
Grinnell Mutual
Reinsurance COHJ
Heinz
John Deere
Kraft
Lockheed Martin
M & M Mars
Monsanto
Morton Buildings
NASA
New Holland
Ralston Purina
Sunkist
US Department of
Agriculture
US Department of
Energy
US Environmental
Protection Agency
1,6 Father of Agricultural Engineering in U.S.A.
The American Society of Agricultural Engineers [ASABE] was founded
December 27, 1907, at the University of Wisconsin. One hundred
years ago, the first agricultural engineering department in the world
was created at Iowa State by J. Brownlee Davidson, a tall man from
rural Nebraska with an affable smile and a dynamic vision. First
President of ASABE J.B. Davidson is sometimes referred to in the
U.S. as the "Father of Agricultural Engineering." Iowa State's Ag
Engineering dept. may be the oldest program of its kind in the US.
JB Davidson saw clearly the need to educate student engineers to
prepare them to apply Engineering Technology to the solution of
agricultural problems.
DB Davidson [Photo courtesy
of Iowa State University
Library]

7. During the first 100 years the ASABE has broadened the scope of the founder to expand its role
beyond farm production to other components of the supply and delivery processes. The rivers of
change that redirected ASABE for the first 100 years will continue to provide the opportunity for
BAE to not only maintain but improve its effectiveness in the delivery of a world class quality
level of education of the students.
2. Biomedical Engineering
Dr Richard Schoephoerster, Chairman of Biomedical Engineering Department at FIU indicates that the
bridge is one of the oldest and most common artifacts for evidence of engineering at its finest. A well-
designed bridge provides the foundation and structural integrity for the transport of objects from one
location to the next across otherwise impassable terrain. In a similar fashion, Biomedical Engineering
serves as a metaphorical "bridge" between engineering and medicine by providing the foundation and
structural integrity for the passage of engineering knowledge to the medical field. Biomedical
engineering is a discipline that advances knowledge in engineering, biology and medicine, and improves
human health through cross-disciplinary activities that integrate the engineering sciences with the
biomedical sciences and clinical practice. It includes: 1. The acquisition of new knowledge and
understanding of living systems through the innovative and substantive application of experimental and
analytical techniques based on the engineering sciences. 2. The development of new devices, algorithms,
processes and systems that advance biology and medicine and improve medical practice and health care
delivery. As used by the Whitaker foundation, the term "biomedical engineering research" is thus
defined in a broad sense: It includes not only the relevant applications of engineering to medicine but also
to the basic life sciences. Biomedical Engineering ranges from theoretical, non experimental
understandings to state of art applications. It encompasses research, development, implementation and
operation. Biomedical engineers can provide the tools and techniques to make the health care system
more effective and efficient.
2.1 What Biomedical Engineers do?
They apply electrical, mechanical, chemical, optical and engineering mechanics principles to understand,
modify, or control biologic (i.e., human and animal) systems, as well as design and manufacture products
that can monitor physiologic functions and assist in the diagnosis and treatment of patients. When
biomedical engineers work within a hospital or clinic, they are more properly called clinical engineers.
The field of biomedical engineering includes many new careers areas as follows:
• Biofluid Mechanics & Computational Fluid Dynamics.
• Application of engineering system analysis (physiologic modeling, simulation and control) to
living systems.

8. • Detection, measurement, and monitoring of physiologic signals (biosensors and biomedical
instrumentation).
• Diagnostic interpretation via signal – processing techniques of bioelectric data.
• Therapeutic and rehabilitation procedures and devices: Rehabilitation Eng.
• Devices for replacement or augmentation of bodily functions: artificial organs.
• Computer analysis of patient related data and clinical decision making: Bioinformatics and
artificial intelligence.
• Medical imaging: Graphic display of anatomic detail or physiologic function.
• The creation of new biologic products: Biotechnology and tissue engineering.
• Biomaterial engineering.
• Biomechanics of human body.
• Design of telemetry systems for patient monitoring.
• Computer modeling of the biofluid systems of human body.
• Expert systems for biodiagnostics.
• Sports engineering
• Biosafety engineering.
• Biothemodynamics and biomass transport phenomena.
2.2 What are some of the specialty areas?
In this field there is continual change and creation of new areas due to rapid advancement in technology;
however, some of the well established specialty areas within the field of biomedical engineering are:
bioinstrumentation; biomaterials; biomechanics; cellular, tissue and genetic engineering; clinical
engineering; medical imaging; orthopedic surgery; rehabilitation engineering; and systems physiology.
Bioinstrumentation is the application of electronics and measurement techniques to develop devices
used in diagnosis and treatment of disease. Computers are an essential part of bioinstrumentation, from
the microprocessor in a single-purpose instrument used to do a variety of small tasks to the
microcomputer needed to process the large amount of information in a medical imaging system.
Biomaterials include both living tissue and artificial materials used for implantation. Understanding the
properties and behavior of living material is vital in the design of implant materials. The selection of an
appropriate material to place in the human body may be one of the most difficult tasks faced by the
biomedical engineer. Certain metal alloys, ceramics, polymers, and composites have been used as
implantable materials. Biomaterials must be nontoxic, non-carcinogenic, chemically inert, stable, and
mechanically strong enough to withstand the repeated forces of a lifetime. Newer biomaterials even
incorporate living cells in order to provide a true biological and mechanical match for the living tissue.
Biomechanics applies classical mechanics (statics, dynamics, fluids, solids, thermodynamics, and
continuum mechanics) to biological or medical problems. It includes the study of motion, material
deformation, flow within the body and in devices, and transport of chemical constituents across biological
and synthetic media and membranes. Progress in biomechanics has led to the development of the artificial
heart and heart valves, artificial joint replacements, as well as a better understanding of the function of the
heart and lung, blood vessels and capillaries, and bone, cartilage, intervertebral discs, ligaments and
tendons of the musculoskeletal systems.
Cellular, Tissue and Genetic Engineering involves more recent attempts to attack biomedical problems
at the microscopic level. These areas utilize the anatomy, biochemistry and mechanics of cellular and sub-
cellular structures in order to understand disease processes and to be able to intervene at very specific

9. sites. With these capabilities, miniature devices deliver compounds that can stimulate or inhibit cellular
processes at precise target locations to promote healing or inhibit disease formation and progression.
Clinical Engineering is the application of technology to health care in hospitals. The clinical engineer is
a member of the health care team along with physicians, nurses and other hospital staff. Clinical engineers
are responsible for developing and maintaining computer databases of medical instrumentation and
equipment records and for the purchase and use of sophisticated medical instruments. They may also
work with physicians to adapt instrumentation to the specific needs of the physician and the hospital. This
often involves the interface of instruments with computer systems and customized software for instrument
control and data acquisition and analysis. Clinical engineers are involved with the application of the latest
technology to health care.
Medical Imaging combines knowledge of a unique physical phenomenon (sound, radiation, magnetism,
etc.) with high speed electronic data processing, analysis and display to generate an image. Often, these
images can be obtained with minimal or completely noninvasive procedures, making them less painful
and more readily repeatable than invasive techniques.
Orthopedic Bioengineering is the specialty where methods of engineering and computational mechanics
have been applied for the understanding of the function of bones, joints and muscles, and for the design of
artificial joint replacements. Orthopedic bioengineers analyze the friction, lubrication and wear
characteristics of natural and artificial joints; they perform stress analysis of the musculoskeletal system;
and they develop artificial biomaterials (biologic and synthetic) for replacement of bones, cartilages,
ligaments, tendons, meniscus and intervertebral discs. They often perform gait and motion analyses for
sports performance and patient outcome following surgical procedures. Orthopedic bioengineers also
pursue fundamental studies on cellular function, and mechanic-signal transduction.
Rehabilitation Engineering is a growing specialty area of biomedical engineering. Rehabilitation
engineers enhance the capabilities and improve the quality of life for individuals with physical and
cognitive impairments. They are involved in prosthetics, the development of home, workplace and
transportation modifications and the design of assistive technology that enhance seating and positioning,
mobility, and communication. Rehabilitation engineers are also developing hardware and software
computer adaptations and cognitive aids to assist people with cognitive difficulties.
Systems Physiology is the term used to describe that aspect of biomedical engineering in which
engineering strategies, techniques and tools are used to gain a comprehensive and integrated
understanding of the function of living organisms ranging from bacteria to humans. Computer modeling
is used in the analysis of experimental data and in formulating mathematical descriptions of physiological
events. In research, predictor models are used in designing new experiments to refine our knowledge.
Living systems have highly regulated feedback control systems that can be examined with state-of-the-art
techniques. Examples are the biochemistry of metabolism and the control of limb movements.
These specialty areas frequently depend on each other. Often, the biomedical engineer who works in an
applied field will use knowledge gathered by biomedical engineers working in other areas. For example,
the design of an artificial hip is greatly aided by studies on anatomy, bone biomechanics, gait analysis,
and biomaterial compatibility. The forces that are applied to the hip can be considered in the design and
material selection for the prosthesis. Similarly, the design of systems to electrically stimulate paralyzed
muscle to move in a controlled way uses knowledge of the behavior of the human musculoskeletal
system. The selection of appropriate materials used in these devices falls within the realm of the
biomaterials engineer. Specific activities by biomedical engineers may include a wide range of activities
such as: Artificial organs (hearing aids, cardiac pacemakers, artificial kidneys and hearts, blood
oxygenators, synthetic blood vessels, joints, arms, and legs); Automated patient monitoring (during

10. surgery or in intensive care; healthy persons in unusual environments, such as astronauts in space or
underwater divers at great depth); Blood chemistry sensors (potassium, sodium, O2, CO2, and pH);
Advanced therapeutic and surgical devices (laser system for eye surgery, automated delivery of insulin,
etc.); Application of expert systems and artificial intelligence to clinical decision making (computer-based
systems for diagnosing diseases); Design of optimal clinical laboratories (computerized analyzer for
blood samples, cardiac catheterization laboratory, etc.); Medical imaging systems (ultrasound, computer
assisted tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography, etc.); Computer
modeling of physiologic systems (blood pressure control, renal function, visual and auditory nervous
circuits, etc.); Biomaterials design (mechanical, transport and biocompatibility properties of implantable
artificial materials); Biomechanics of injury and wound healing (gait analysis, application of growth
factors, etc.); and Sports medicine (rehabilitation, external support devices, etc.). List of Academic
Programs in Biomedical Engineering is available on the Internet at: www.bmenet.org; bmes.org;
The Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society of the IEEE
The American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering
3. References
American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (2006). www.asabe.org 2950 Niles Road,
St. Joseph, MI 49085. <hq@asabe.org>
Biomedical Engineering Society (2006). www.bmes.org 8401 Corporate Drive, Suite 110 Landover,
Maryland 20785, USA.
<http://www.whitaker.org/academic/> ; < www.bmenet.org >; <http://www.aimbe.org/>
4. Authorization and Disclaimer
Authors authorize LACCEI to publish the paper #045 in the conference proceedings. Neither LACCEI
nor the editors are responsible either for the content or for the implications of what is expressed in the
paper.
5. Acknowledgements
This paper #047 was prepared for presentation at The Fourth Latin American and Caribbean Conference
[LACCEI] on June 21 - 23, 2006 at Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. Authors thank the editorial staff for
suggestions. This paper summarizes information from websites for American Society of Agricultural and
Biological Engineering and Biomedical Engineering Society who have granted the permission to make
this presentation. For more details please send your comments at my email or visit my webpage:
<http://www.ece.uprm.edu/~m_goyal/home.htm>